ceilidh

variants also ceili
Scottish & Irish

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ceilidh Apparently the best and prettiest dancer gets chosen, but the only thing Ellen really cares about is that Brian also makes his way into the ceilidh and winds up her temporary partner during the group dance. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 29 Aug. 2025 Dancing The Irish Network hosts its annual ceili (dance) from 4 to 7pm Sunday at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter. Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025 The night concluded with a ceilidh hosted by Amber’s music school friends, the Haggis Chasers. Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2024 The Scotland episode sandwiches the synagogue moment with Levy standing in an ornate castle doing Sean Connery impressions, visiting a tailor to custom-make a kilt, and at a ceilidh, dancing in a kilt and making jokes about the ventilation. Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2024 Make sure to grab a wee dram at The Malt Room, Inverness’ first whisky bar, followed by Hootananny, a ceilidh cafe for live traditional Scottish folk music (even Mumford and Sons have played here). Marisel Salazar, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Dec. 2022 She’s a member of the Irish American Club and a traditional Irish ceilidh dancer. Elissa Welle, Detroit Free Press, 9 Feb. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ceilidh
Noun
  • Batiste did so with such skill, joy and verve, his playing at times suggested a heady jam session by Keith Jarrett, Fats Waller, Yuja Wang and Allen Toussaint.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025
  • After an initial jam session to determine musical abilities and interests, participants are paired up and assigned to a counselor who manages their activities for the week.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Submissions for the 2026 festival are now open, with a full rundown of rules, eligibility and deadlines available HERE.
    Dade Hayes, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In November, the band will host its now-annual festival in Miramar Beach, Florida.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Mama’s Boy Known for its fresh biscuits, in-house raspberry jam, and long lines, Mama’s Boy is a breakfast spot that is beloved in many ex-college students’ and locals’ hearts.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Puth and the band stretched out nearly every song with jams, breakdowns, and solos, with the star occasionally scatting along with his harmonically adventurous keyboard excursions.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The church annually has a songfest following Dec. 25, which actually begins the Christmas season, but this one will honor the Rev. Wally Hyclak, who is retiring Jan. 1.
    cleveland, cleveland, 13 Dec. 2019
  • The songfest began with the women introducing themselves by singing out their names.
    Dennis Hohenberger, Courant Community, 29 May 2018
Noun
  • Chris also gets sidelined by the protest traffic, and chooses to put on her running shoes and sprint to her daughter’s recital when taking a car there proves impossible.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
  • In between that opening scene in 1996 and the closing episode set in 2022, the show moves back and forth along the timeline, tackling life events both big and small in this trio’s lives, from bar mitzvahs and failed interventions to child dance recitals and the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ceilidh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ceilidh. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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